Mexican Government's New Tequila-Export Regulations Create Conflicts with U.S. Liquor Distributors

The Mexican government has proposed a new set of regulations that severely restrict the origin of tequila and the manner in which it is exported. The proposal revises the Norma Oficial Mexicana (NOM) del Tequila, which was implemented in 1997 to create special protections for the Mexican tequila industry.

Under the proposed revisions, which will be published in October and could go into effect at the start of 2004, Mexican tequila producers would no longer be allowed to sell tequila to overseas buyers in vats or bulk containers. Instead, all tequila exports will have to be bottled at 180 approved locations in five states. The majority of these sites are in Jalisco state, Mexico's largest tequila-producing state. The other sites are located in Michoacan, Guanajuato, Nayarit, and Tamaulipas states.

The Consejo Regulador del Tequila (CRT) said the new regulations are intended to help the government maintain a stricter control over the quality of tequila, which is protected by intellectual-property laws through various trade agreements (see SourceMex, 1997-02-12 and 1997-10-29).

"This decision will …

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Publication information: Article title: Mexican Government's New Tequila-Export Regulations Create Conflicts with U.S. Liquor Distributors. Contributors: Not available. Magazine title: SourceMex Economic News & Analysis on Mexico. Publication date: October 1, 2003. Page number: Not available. © 2009 Latin American Data Base/Latin American Institute. COPYRIGHT 2003 Gale Group.

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